Bayelsa Election: Court Hears New Case to Stop Gov Diri’s Governorship Bid

Hey there, middle schoolers! Guess what? There’s some interesting news about the upcoming Bayelsa governorship election. A fresh case has started in a Federal High Court in Abuja, less than nine days before the election. This case is all about trying to disqualify Governor Douye Diri and his Deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

So, what’s this lawsuit all about? Well, the person who filed it, a woman named Blessing Clement Azibanagbal from Bayelsa, wants the court to make the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) remove Diri and Ewhrudjakpo’s names as candidates for the election. She also wants INEC to stop publishing their names as the party’s representatives.

Azibanagbal’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Nsowu, argues that Ewhrudjakpo is not qualified to be the deputy governor under the PDP. She also claims that Ewhrudjakpo has multiple names but no evidence to prove that he is the same person. Azibanagbal believes that because of these reasons, the PDP doesn’t have a valid candidate for the election.

Let’s break down the questions Azibanagbal wants the court to answer:

1. Can someone with only a first school leaving certificate run for the governorship of a state, according to the 1999 Constitution?
2. Can the failure of the governor and the PDP to provide a qualified candidate be a reason to disqualify both of them?
3. Can a candidate with multiple names, but no evidence to support those names, run for a governorship election?
4. Does Ewhrudjakpo’s submission of only his first school leaving certificate qualify him to be the deputy governor?
5. Considering all these issues, does the court have the power to order INEC to remove Diri and Ewhrudjakpo’s names from the election?

Now that the case has started, the judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, has adjourned it until November 30th for the hearing. That’s when the court will listen to both sides and make a decision.

So, let’s wait and see what happens! Will Diri and Ewhrudjakpo be disqualified from the election? Or will they be allowed to continue as candidates? Stay tuned for more updates!